Treadle attachment



(No Mcdel.)

J. F. WILKINSON.

TREADLE ATTACHMENT.

WITNE 55E 5:

A a. M-

FFICE PATENT JOHN F. IVILKINSON, OF AYER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TREADLE ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,577, dated October 26, 1897.

Application filed September 25, 1896- Serlal No. 606,922. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN FRANK WILKIN- SON, of Ayer, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Treadle Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to produce an improved device for machines employing a treadle mechanism for throwing the crank off of a dead-center and for starting the driving-wheel in the proper direction when the treadle is operated and preventing it from rotating in the wrong direction.

To this end the invention consists of theimproved device which is illustrated on the drawings and which I shall now proceed to describe in detail, and then point out in the claims hereto annexed.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawin gs, and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

Figure 1 shows in perspective a portion of a sewing-machine frame or standard with the treadle, driving-wheel, the pitman, and my improved device for preventing the rotation of the driving-wheel in the wrong direction and throwing the crank off of a dead-center. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the

treadle and the supplemental treadle being both shown in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the crank-shaft and the clutch thereon,which latter is connected with the supplemental treadle. Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a section through the treadle, illustrating one method of fastening the supporting-springs of the supplemental treadle thereto.

My invention is adapted to be used in connection with the treadle and driving-wheel of a machine of any pattern or class, but for the sake of illustration I have shown it as being attached to a sewing-machine having an end standard a,provided with a bracket b,in which the crank-shaft c is journaled.

The treadle d is mounted on a shaft 6 at the base of the standard and is connected at its upper end with the crank by the pitman-rod f, pivoted to said crank-shaft and to a pin 9 on an extension h of the said treadle. On the crank-shaft is rigidly mounted a drivingwheel t'. Thus far the machine described is no different from those now in use.

My improvement consists of a supplemental treadle comprising a strip j, extending across the treadle from side to side beneath the ball of the foot when the latter is on the treadle. The strip j is supported upon the ends of pins 7c,projecting upward from curved springs Z, secured on the under side of the treadle and normally holding it in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The ends of the springs may be riveted to the under side of the main treadle, but I sometimes prefer to secure them to blocks m, with beveled edges inserted in the apertures 12 in the treadle, the Walls of which apertures are tapering to receive said blocks,

' link 0, the upper end p of which is journaled or pivoted in the arm q of a clutch r on the crank-shaft. The arm q is slotted to receive a block 3, held forward bya spring 2, against the said end go, so as to compensate for any Wear of the bearings of said end and prevent rattling of the end in the arm. The clutch 0" may be of any approved construction, but I prefer one which is noiseless in its operation. The clutch allows the driving-wheel and the crank'shaft to revolve freely in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, but looks it against rotation in the opposite direction. Hence when the supplemental treadle is depressed, even though the pitman and the crank are on a dead-center, it will start the shaft in the direction of the arrow far enough for the treadle to revolve the driving-wheel when it is depressed. Hence it will be seen that at no time will the driving-shaft 'be allowed to rotate in the wrong direction, and that upon starting the machine to work the driving-shaft is given its initial movement without the help of the hands which is generally given to the rotating parts of machines without attachments of this nature. The contact of the springs with the under side of the main treadle limits the upward movement of the supplemental treadle. In case it is desired to equip amachine in which the drivingshaft rotates in the opposite direction with my improvement the clutch is merely reversed,

as will be readily understood. Preferably the arm zfis slightly longer than the crankshaft, in order to allow for a slight movement of the clutch before it is locked to the shaft.

It will be understood that'I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement of the springs Z and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, it is declared that what is claimed is- 1. The combination with a driving-Wheel,

. a crank, a pit-man, and a main treadle, forming a treadle mechanism, of a clutch on the crank-shaft, a supplemental treadle connected to the said clutch and located over the forward or toe end of the main treadle, so that both treadles can be moved simultaneously by the same foot or feet, and a spring con-. nection between the supplemental and main treadles, whereby the supplemental treadle is yieldingly raised and separated from the main treadle and permitted to move toward the latter by downward pressure of the operators foot, while the main treadle is being operated, the yielding support of the supplemental treadle relieving the jar on the operators feet.

2; The combination with a driving-wheel, a crank, a pitman, anda treadle, forming a treadle mechanism, of a clutch on the crankshaft, and a supplemental treadle connected to the said clutch, said supplemental treadle consisting of a strip or bar extending across the main treadle, and springs located below the main treadle and connected with said bar.

3. The combination with a driving-wheel, a crank, a pitman, and a treadle, of a clutch on the crank-shaft, a link 0 connected with the clutch, and a supplemental treadle connected to the said link, said supplemental treadle comprising the strip j arranged above the face of the main treadle, springs Z Z each having one end'secured to the under face of the main treadle, and pins 70 7c connecting the said strip j with the free ends of the springs. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 19th day of September, A. D. 1896.

JOHN F. \VILKINSON.

iVitnesses:

HORATIO N. TOWER, FRED. J. DUNLAP. 

